So it's World Cup season. Chinese internet is swarming with comments having fun with the fact that the China National Football team failed to make it in this time, again.

So, China technically had four chances to reach the World Cup:

Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, and whether you agree or not Taiwan (China Taipei).

And somehow… not one of them qualified.

The Chinese internet is ablaze with offering solutions:

“Why not put all four in the same group? Have them duke it out. Surely one of them would get through.”

Honestly, that person should be hired as the new ChinA national SOCCER team strategist.

Another comment said:

“The China made FIFA merchandise went. The Chinese company sponsorthip and advertisements went. The Chinese referee went. And of course the Chinese fans went. The only thing that didn’t go… was the Chinese football team.”

That’s pretty outch. That is not a comment. That is an assassination.

Then someone pointed out that FIFA officially recognized China as the birthplace of football.

to that, Chinese commentators are responding that:

“We Chinese were only responsible for inventing it—not for developing or preserving it.”

But here’s the plot twist:

China does have someone on the field.

This is Mr. Ma Ning, the Chinese referee who actually qualified for the World Cup.

So the Chinese internet has decided:

It’s for the best to not send the Chinese national football team, who may drag down Mr. Ma Ning’s performance.

Finally, Chinese internet is essentially saying, China’s best strategy may be sending eleven referees instead of eleven football players.

Would that finally get them into the World Cup?